. >> and i'm carolyn johnson. many experts believe romney's momentum will be all but impossible to stop. >> with 94% of the precincts now reporting, mitt romney has 39% of the vote. ron paul has 23%. jon huntsman comes in third with 17%. newt gingrich and santorum are battling it out for fourth with 9% each. abc7's john alston is here with what is clearly a crucial night. >> romney has established himself as the front runner into the first southern primaries. he is the first republican since president ford in 1976 to have back to back victories in iowa and new hampshire. >> thank you, new hampshire. >> immediately after declaring victory, mitt romney took on the challenger he hopes to face in november, president obama. >> he promised to improve our nation. those were the days of lofty promises made by a hopeful candidate. today we are faced with the disuh .ing -- the disappointing record of a failed appointment. >> he gave the second place finish to ron paul who approved his standing from last week's iowa caucuses